Exotic Dark Chocolate Verrine Recipes

DARK CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Lightly oil an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2-inch loaf pan and line it as neatly as possible with plastic wrap, allowing the ends to drape over the sides. (I lay two pieces of plastic wrap crosswise in the pan, overlapping in the center.) Place the pan in the freezer.
• Place a large heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Place the butter in the bowl, then the chocolate and coffee powder and heat until just melted, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula. As soon as the chocolate and butter are melted, take the bowl off the heat and whisk in, one at a time, and in order, first the confectioners' sugar, then the cocoa powder, egg yolks, Cognac and salt. Set the bowl aside for 15 minutes to cool.
• Place the egg whites and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until the whites form firm but not dry peaks. Fold the whites into the cooled chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula.
• Without cleaning the bowl or whisk attachment, pour the cream and vanilla into the bowl and beat on high speed until it forms firm peaks. Fold the cream carefully but thoroughly into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared loaf pan, smooth the top, fold the plastic wrap over the top and chill for 4 hours or overnight.
• To serve, turn the terrine out of the mold and unwrap it. Spoon a puddle of Orange Sauce in the middle of each dessert plate and place a slice of the terrine in the middle. Sprinkle each serving lightly with orange zest and fleur de sel.
• Beat the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed for 3 minutes, until very thick. Reduce to low speed and mix in the cornstarch.
• With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture (I use a liquid measuring cup for pouring). Pour the mixture into a clean, small, deep saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it reaches 180 degrees F on a candy thermometer and thickens to the consistency of heavy cream. The mixture will coat the spoon. Don't cook it above 180 degrees F or the eggs will scramble! Immediately (it will keep cooking in the saucepan), pour the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in the vanilla, Cognac, Grand Marnier and orange zest. Cover and chill.

EXOTIC DARK CHOCOLATE FONDUE

Steps:

• Arrange fruit prettily on a serving platter.In a small saucepan, gently heat cream with Cayenne pepper. Remove from heat and cool for a few minutes...and the pepper will cast its spicy spell. Heat the cream again until tiny bubbles appear. Remove from the heat, add chopped chocolate and stir until chocolate is completely melted.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Allow the cioccolato scuro gelato to "warm" up a bit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. You can use a kitchen mixer to soften your gelato, but make sure that you place the mixer bowl and paddle in the freezer for at least 15 minutes beforehand. Mix the gelato in a chilled bowl until soft but not melting.
• Take your clean, dry terrine and rub a tiny bit of oil over the entire interior surface using a clean paper towel. Make sure you get into the corners.
• Line the terrine using a large piece of plastic wrap, leaving at least 6 inches of wrap over the sides. Push into the corners and smooth the wrinkles using a clean dry paper towel. Place the terrine in the freezer for 15 minutes to chill.
• Remove the chilled terrine and working quickly, spoon the cioccolato scuro gelato into the bottom, filling it by one-third. Push the gelato down firmly into the corners using a small offset spatula. Level the surface, and then freeze for 1 hour.
• Repeat the process with the white chocolate gelato, freezing for 1 hour, and then repeat with the bacio gelato, freezing for 1 more hour, making sure each layer is firm before adding the next.
• After leveling the top, pour the chopped caramelized hazelnuts onto the surface. Take the plastic edges and cover the surface, pressing the nuts into the gelato. Freeze overnight.
• To serve, remove the terrine from the freezer and let stand for about 8 minutes. Using the plastic wrap, slowly lift the gelato out of the terrine. Unwrap the plastic and invert onto a serving tray. You can tip the terrine on its side to view the nuts.
• Run your knife under very hot water, wipe dry and slice the terrine. Do this before each slice. Serve it in slices, sandwiched between rectangular homemade sugar cookies or simply with some warm chocolate sauce.

WHITE & DARK CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Brush a 2lb loaf tin (about 22 x 11 x 6cm) with oil, line completely with cling film (the oil will help it to stick to the sides), then line the base with a strip of baking parchment. Gently melt the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, then remove from the heat and leave to cool a little. Using an electric whisk, beat in 200ml of the cream until the mixture is just holding its own shape. Set aside while you make the dark layer.
• Melt the dark chocolate as you did the white, then remove from the heat and cool for 1 min. Little by little, stir the remaining cream into the melted chocolate until you have a smooth, thick ganache. Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks, stir a third into the ganache to loosen it, then fold in the rest.
• To assemble, spoon just under half of the dark mixture into the loaf tin and smooth the surface. Spoon over the white chocolate and smooth, then gently spoon the remaining dark chocolate mixture over the top, being careful not to disturb the white layer, again smoothing the surface. Cover and chill for at least 2 hrs. If you're making the terrine the day before, let it sit at room temperature for 1 hr before serving.
• To serve, turn the tin upside down onto a serving plate and use the edges of cling film to ease out the terrine. Remove the cling film and baking parchment and serve with the Star anise biscuits (see Goes well with, right).

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Since the flavor of these layers depends entirely on the chocolate, please use the best brand you can afford- I like Callebaut, but you can also use Lindt, Tobler, Valrhona or Ghiardelli.
• Using a standard loaf pan, line it with plastic wrap so that the plastic extends beyond the sides of the pan by at least 3 inches on each side.
• For the dark chocolate layer: melt the chocolate, espresso, and rum in the microwave on 50% power for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until smooth.
• Whisk in the yolk and mix well.
• Set aside.
• Whip the whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
• Sprinkle in the sugar, beating on high until stiff, but not dry.
• Fold a quarter of the whites into the chocolate to lighten it, then scrape the remaining whites on top of the chocolate and set aside.
• Beat the cream until it holds it shape (not stiff) then scrape on top of the whites.
• Fold everything together gently until no streaks of white appear.
• Turn the mousse into your prepared mold, spreading until it is an even layer.
• Place in the freezer.
• Make the milk chocolate layer: melt the chocolate and coffee in the microwave on 30% (low) power for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until smooth and completely melted.
• (Milk chocolate burns very easily. Do not attempt to melt it at a higher temperature.) Set aside to cool slightly.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form- not too stiff.
• Fold very carefully into the milk chocolate- it will seem very soft.
• Scrape on top of the dark chocolate layer, smoothing to an even layer.
• Put in the freezer.
• Make the white chocolate layer: place the chocolate and 2 tbl.
• water in a heatproof bowl.
• Microwave on low (30% power) for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until very smooth and completely melted.
• Let cool slightly.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form- not too stiff.
• Fold very carefully into the chocolate- it, too, will seem very soft.
• Scrape on top of the milk chocolate layer, smoothing to an even layer.
• Now- gently, gently tap the pan a couple of times on the counter to allow all the layers to settle against one another.
• Carefully wrap the excess plastic up over the mousse.
• Put the entire thing in the freezer for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• It also freezes well for a month prior to serving.
• To serve: Take the pan from the freezer, and set in a pan of hot water for 10 seconds.
• Carefully unwrap the plastic from the top, then unmold onto a cutting board, pulling on the plastic wrap to help release it.
• Peel the plastic from the mousse and discard.
• Slice the mousse into 8 slices (this is done more easily with a knife you run under hot water then wipe dry quickly and cut while the knife is still warm) and carefully arrange on individual plates.
• Serve immediately.
• Serving suggestions: raspberry sauce and a few berries and a sprig of mint, or be really decadent and serve it with a drizzle of hot fudge sauce and a sprig of mint or both.

EXOTIC & DARK CHOCOLATE VERRINE

Steps:

• Pipe 40 g of chocolate crémeux in the verrine and refrigerate
• Immersion blend half of the mango passion fruit confit to a smooth paste then add 30 g to fresh mango Brunoise
• Add into the Verrine
• Add the streusel and Crispearls
• Pipe 25 g of chocolate mousse and refrigerate
• Pipe 25 g exotic confit mix
• Decorate with Crispearls and lime zest